It was all cheers at Moses Mabhida Stadium as King MisuZulu kaZwelithini was handed the certificate of recognition by the state.
“King Misuzulu is the rightful and only king of the Zulu nation.”
Thes were the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa as he officially handed over the certificate of recognition to Misuzulu acknowledging him as the legitimate King on Saturday.
“You have picked up the mighty spear that has fallen. May your steady hand guide and bring stability to the kingship of AmaZulu,” Ramaphosa said, adding that his government was committed to working with the new King to help transform rural areas into places of prosperity.
The words were met by a resounding round of applause at a packed Moses Mabhida stadium.
Misuzulu, 48, ascended the throne once held by his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini, who passed away in March 2021 after a diabetes-related illness.
The crowning- the first South Africa has witnessed in more than 50 years-comes after a year of contestation over who should be the king of Amazulu, with the royal succession battles spilling over to the courts.
King Misuzulu reigns over a divided royal family, with another faction that includes some of his late father’s wives and some siblings from the other palaces, recognising King Zwekithini’s first-born son Prince Simakade as the new King.
In an unexpected move, Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu, the Zulu Queen whose first court case opened the gates for several litigations over the throne and the estate of the late king Zwelithini, attended the coronation of King Misuzulu.
Queen Sibongile went to court few weeks after the passing of the late king asking the court to grant her 50% of the king’s estate as she was his first wife. Shortly after, her two daughters, Princess Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Dumaand Ntandoyenkosi joined her. in their seperate case, they questioned the validity of the King’s will arguing that the signature was forged. They were jined by Prince Mbonisi.
They lost the case and King Misuzulu ascended to the throne.
Source: News24, Eyewitness News, The Guardian, BBC News, IOL, Reuters, image from Twitter: @PresidencyZA